There will be no changes until there are actual orders.

CREDIT: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin

One day after President Trump decreed on Twitter that transgender people will be prohibited from serving in the military “in any capacity,” the Joint Chiefs of Staff are reportedly holding off on implementing that change.

According to a letter seen by Reuters, General Joseph Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has told the military there will be no changes in the transgender policy until the president issues them direction.

“In the meantime, we will continue to treat all of our personnel with respect,” Dunford said.

As Wednesday’s White House press conference seemed to confirm, Trump’s desired change exists only in tweet form so far. There has been no executive order or expression of the policy in any other documented form. And the tweets alone apparently are not enough for the military to start firing as many as 15,000 active and reserve troops.

Just last month, Dunford said at an event that there would be no changes to the policy that transgender servicemembers could continue serving openly, as they have been allowed to do so since last year. Enlistment of transgender people was supposed to begin July 1 of this year, but Defense Secretary James Mattis agreed to delay implementation of that policy six more months to allow for additional review. He clarified at the time that the delay would not necessarily change the ultimate outcome of the policy taking effect.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed Wednesday that Mattis was only informed of Trump’s decision to ban all transgender servicemembers “immediately after” that decision was made. Matt has been on vacation this week.